Improvement in trusses



W. A. TURNER.

muss.

MPE'TERS. PKOTO-LITNOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON. O C.

Patented Oct. 3-. 18-76.

.lliorizw UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

WINFIELD A. TURNER, OF HIAWATHA, KANSAS, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND J. F. ROEHM, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN TRUSSES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 182,972, dated October 3, 1876; application filed August 14, 1876.

' and 2 are, respectively, a horizontal section on line a c, Fig. 2, and an end view of my improved pad; and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the truss.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

My invention relates to an improved truss,

that may be adjusted by the wearer so as to produce a greater or less pressure on the rupture without tightening the belt. The pad is prevented from tipping, and may be changed in length to fit any sized person. The pad may also be readily cleansed, and is light and durable.

The invention consists of a pad made of a ball and adjustable socket-tube, the pressure on the ball being regulated by a spring and set-screw. The ball-socket slides on a fixed socket of the base plate, and is secured by small set-screws. A belt and thigh-strap secure the truss in position on the body.

In the drawing, A represents a belt of any approved construction B, the thigh-strap and O, the pad, that is connected to the belt by a base-plate, D, and to the strap by aslotted gageplate, B, screwed to the baseplate D. The pad 0 is made of a fixed interior socket-tube and a sliding exterior socket-tube, that carries a movable glass ball, E. The outer sliding socket is secured to the inner socket by means of small clamping-screws a, and thereby the length of the pad adjusted, according as the same is to be worn by persons of corpulent or spare build. Thus the truss may be exactly fitted to the condition of the person, and to the rupture to which it is applied. The thigh-strap secures the regular position of the pad, and prevents its tipping or changing of place. A band-spring, F, of suitable strength extends through slotted recesses of the base-plate and sockets, to a point below the glass ball, and bears with one end on the under side of the same, While the opposite end extends into a screw-socket, G, projecting at the front side of the base-plate and belt. The screw acts by a traversing nut on the spring, so that the pressure of the same on the ball may be increased or decreased at any time by the wearer by merely turning the screw. The pressure of the pad may thus be adjusted with great facility to the rupture, so that the protruding parts may be pressed back with greater or less force independently of the belt. The belt fits all the time comfortably to the body, without chafing or hurting, while either the pressure of the pad on the ruptured part or the length of the pad-socket is adjusted. Thus a clean, durable, and effective truss-construction is furnished, that may be adapted to the varying conditions of the ruptures, and thereby promote in a great measure the healing of the same.

Having thus described myinvention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patcut- 1. As an improvement in trusses, the combination of the fixed socket-tube of the baseplate, with a sliding ball-carrying socket-tube, and suitable set-screws, to adjust the length of the pad, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination of the movable ball-pad with a band-spring, hearing at one end on the under side of the ball, and being acted upon by an adjusting mechanism at the other end to adjust the pressure of the pad, substantially as specified.

WINFIELD AUGUSTUS TURNER.

Witnesses:

A. R. MAY, HENRY IsELY. 

